Count Down to Shiny Pants

   My progress so far- When I joined a gym two years ago, I did something I was avoiding for years.  I stepped on a scale.  The word that best describes that moment is 'horrifying'.  I knew I was overweight, even obese, but I had no idea how far I had let myself go.  Now two years later, I am 54 pounds lighter and counting.  I still have a long way to go.  It took me 32 years to reach my heaviest weight, it will take me a while to take it off.

   So what does this have to do with shiny pants?  I am glad you asked.  In a previous post, I wrote about my purple dress that I hope to wear again one day.  I am still far from that goal, but I find that to reach my large goals I must set a series of smaller goals.  One of these goals is my shiny pants.
   My shiny pants are a pair of jean in my drawer that I have not been able to wear for a few years.  They are my favorite jeans, because if they catch the light they shine.  It is not a tacky shine, but  a subtle shine; just enough to be interesting.  They are very cute and two years ago, I could scarcely pull them up, let alone zip them closed.  Today I can almost wear them.  A few more pounds and I should be able to wear them in public again.  My goal is to debut them on my birthday in a few weeks.  Wish me luck.

            What is the one item in your closet you wish you could wear again?

Review: Forks Over Knives

    In our efforts to save money,  my husband and I discovered that Netflix is much cheaper than cable.  Therefore I have enjoyed surfing the site and finding new and interesting thing to watch.  Some time ago I found several documentaries about health that I deserve sharing.  In this first review, I will discuss 'Forks Over Knives'.
    Released in 2011, 'Forks Over Knives' focuses on the research of two doctors; Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.  These two doctors independently came to the same conclusion regarding health.  The best way to avoid or even treat deadly diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer is through a whole foods plant based diet.
    Dr. Campbell came to this conclusion through his research.  While working in the Philippines in the late 1960's, he noticed that there was a high rate of liver cancer among the children of affluent families but not poor families.  (Liver cancer is typically found in adults.)  Genetically they were the same, but the affluent families ate a lot of meat which the poor families could not afford.  He hypothesized that there could be a connection.  Then he found an article from a little known Indian medical journal about a study done on mice.  Researchers took two groups of mice.  They fed one group a diet of 20% animal protein and the second group a diet of 5% animal protein.  The group with 20% animal protein began developing tumors while the group with 5% animal protein did not.  Dr. Campbell was intrigued by this and replicated the experiment with the same results.  He also discovered that by switching the diet from 20% protein back to 5% protein he could halt the growth of the tumors.  When he tried the experiment with plant based protein he did not get the same result.  Later, in the 1980's Dr. Campbell along with Dr. Junshi Chen started the famous China Study, a comprehensive study of why some populations in China have a higher rate of cancer deaths than others.  After many years of work, they discovered that the areas which ate more meat developed more cancer.  He concluded from all this research that a whole foods plant based diet could prevent or perhaps even halt cancer.
    Dr. Esselstyn began his medical career as a surgeon specializing in breast cancer.  He eventually became head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the Cleveland Clinic.  He became frustrated that while they treated the disease, they did little to prevent people from getting it in the first place.  He started researching breast cancer around the world and found some startling facts.  He found that in 1958 the number of prostate cancer deaths in the entire nation of Japan was 18 but 14,000 in the US.  And in Norway in 1939, the number of  deaths from heart attacks plummeted when the Nazis came and confiscated the live stock.  But when they left in 1945, and the Norwegians returned to a diet with more animal protein heart attacks rose again.  Dr Esselstyn wanted to study his theory.  Unable to do the study on breast cancer victims, he decided to focus on patients with heart disease.  He requested and was given 24 patients with coronary artery disease, however the patients he was given were even sicker than he imagined.  One woman was told by her doctor to basically go home and wait for death.  Many had failed their bypass operations.  Dr. Esselstyn had his patients eat a whole foods plant based diet.   Of the patients that stayed with the program, none had any further progression of heart disease and most showed evidence of reversal.
   This is a small sample of the information in this documentary.  After viewing it, my husband and I decided to give a whole foods plant based diet a try.  I will write more on that in the future.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
        Do you think you would try a whole foods plant based (vegan) diet a try?

Why I Stopped Couponing

     For those of us who live in the South East, today begins a very important week: Super Double Coupon Week at Harris Teeter stores.  If you are unfamiliar with Harris Teeter's coupon policy, Harris Teeter grocery stores will double coupons up to $.98 but on Super Double Coupon week they will double coupons up to $2.  This usually results in a frenzy to get the best deals before they are gone.  I know, I've been there.  You can get some items for very little money or sometimes even free.  For example if an item costs $4 and you have a $1.50 off coupon, you can purchase that item for $1.  If the item happens to be on sale that week it is even better.  Imagine the same $4 item is on sale for $3 that week.  After you double your coupon, you will get it for free.  I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of free.  So why with all these savings available, am I not scouring sales papers in an effort to get free groceries?
     In my efforts to be more frugal, I started couponing about a year and a half ago.  And continued for several months.  In that time I came to several conclusions.
                    1. Couponing saves a lot of money
      Couponing is not for everyone, but many people find that it's a great way to feed their families for a reasonable price.  In fact, I recommend trying it for a while and seeing if it is for you.  The true savings is not in the coupon itself (often only a few cents off the price), but in pairing that coupon with sales and specials (such as double or triple coupon deals).  You could search the local advertisements yourself, or you could find one of numerous sites that match them for you.  For those in the South East I recommend Southern Savers, but there are other sites for different regions.  These sites often have excellent tutorials on how to get started.
                    2.  Most of the food coupons are for processed food and cleaning products
      If you didn't already know, I am on a quest to loose weight and keep it off (30 lbs so far).  I put a lot of research into the best way to accomplish this and one thing I've learned is to avoid processed foods whenever possible.  Most contain high fructose corn syrup and/or large amounts of salt.  They also often contain harmful chemicals.  I have decided to eat few if any of these foods and therefore many of my coupons are rendered obsolete.  As for cleaning products, they can indeed be useful, but I am trying to reduce the amount of chemicals in my home.  Most cleaning products are full of harmful chemicals.  Plus you can save nearly as much money by making your own.
                  3. Couponing takes time
     There are several methods of couponing.  Some cut out all the coupons and file them in a coupon filer or a binder.  Other's file the coupon flyers, use their favorite website to match the coupons for them and then cut out only the ones they plan on using.  I have tried both methods and they both take a significant amount of time.  Whether or not you can spend the time on this is up to your own schedule and priorities.

     Couponing is a great tool for saving money.  But for myself, the scarcity of coupons for healthy products, added with the significant amount of time involved led me to stop.  I may eventually go back, but for right now, I find other ways to save.  But that doesn't mean I won't check out coupons.com on occasion.  It is Super Double Coupon week after all.

Do you use coupons?

The Dangers of Sugar

  Sugar is everywhere.   It is in our juice and bacon in the morning, the bread we make our sandwiches with, and even the can of tomatoes we add to our dinner.  Is it any wonder we gain weight?  The producers of our food are now putting sugar in its various forms in many products that we would never even think of as having sugar.
  There is so much conflicting information out there about the best way to loose weight.  In the 1980's, the American Heart Association told everyone that the way to loose weight is to reduce fat.  They wanted the American people to reduce their fat consumption from 40% to 30%.  Well congratulations America we did it.  But what happened?  We weigh more than ever.  I believe there is more than one reason for this, but one of the primary reasons is sugar.
  I love sugar.  I confess to being a chocoholic.  I would eat ice cream everyday if I let myself.  Fried foods have never been a big weakness for me, but sugar is.  Therefore it is with a heavy heart that I have reduced the sugar in my life.
  I always knew that sugar was bad for me, but I never realized how bad it was or how prevalent a problem it had become until I saw a lecture on youtube.com.  The video is a lecture by Dr. Robert Lustig called sugar the bitter truth.  It is an hour and a half long, and contains a lot of biochemistry that is way over my head.  The information it contains has the potential to change the way you look at food.  I highly recommend you take the time to watch it.  If an hour and a half is too long, someone has made an eleven minute summary called sugar the bitter truth (the short version).
  I do not believe that I need to give up all sugar.  But now that I am aware of just how big a problem it can be I will take steps to limit the amount of sugar I eat.  I now read labels before I purchase a product.  I watch out for sugar synonyms such as: sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, and syrup to name a few.  Instead of sweets, I am filling my home with fruit.   Surprisingly, this seems to satisfy my sweet tooth.  However, I will allow myself a slice of cake on birthdays.

After you watch the videos, please share your thoughts.

Project Unclutter: Final Thoughts

  A month ago, I started Project Unclutter.  I got the idea from a book: Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Rooney Doland.  So the big question is, did I unclutter my life?  Not entirely.  I have made great strides in uncluttering my wardrobe, kitchen, bathroom, and living room.  I have also managed to maintain the level of order I've found for a solid month.  It will still take more time for my study.
  Having tried it would I recommend Unclutter Your Life in One Week?  Absolutely.  I have been a pack rat my entire life.  I have tried many different plans to relieve myself from CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and so far this has been the only one that seems to work for me.  I had the desire to be organized before, but now I feel that I have finally been shown the way.

What books have made a difference in your life?

DIY Savings: "Fabreze"

  I am always concerned about how my apartment smells should anyone come over.  Therefore, I find myself using a lot of Fabreze.  When I am doing a 30-minute clean it takes seconds to just spray down the carpet and sofas as I go.  So when I realized the other day that I was almost out of Fabreze, I turned to the internet to find out how to save money and still keep my apartment smelling fresh.

   There are many recipes for home made "Fabreze".  Most of these recipes involve some combination of water, fabric softener, and sometimes baking soda.  The recipe I used is from tipnut.  There are four options on the page, so you may choose any you wish.  I used #2, and so far I like it.  It seems to work just as well as the real Fabreze.
  So what are the benefits of making my own?  The first is the most obvious: cost.  A bottle of Fabreze can cost $3 or more at your local grocery store.  A bottle of cheap fabric softener can be found at a local dollar store or Family Dollar and will last much longer.  I even used my old Fabreze bottle, so I did not have to pay for a new one.
  The second reason is less obvious.  When buying my fabric softener, I spent a little more money to buy a product called Seventh Generation.  Seventh generation is non-toxic and biodegradable, it uses natural scents, and the softening agent is plant based (most fabric softeners are made from animal fat).  I might have paid more, but it will still come out cheaper than buying Fabreze.  Plus, using the right fabric softener is better for the environment.
*Note: If using on material that is flame resistant, most fabric softeners reduce flame resistance.

What do you use to keep your home fresh?

Project Unclutter: Day 4 (sacrifices)

   I love Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  If you know me, you are laughing at this point.  It's been my favorite book since age 12, long before the movies came out.  So what does this have to do with uncluttering?  I'm getting to that.

   I started out the day behind.  Two trips to the mechanic yesterday totaled about five and a half hours in a waiting room (at least the car is fixed now).  So I never got a chance to organize the kitchen.  However, thanks to a little elbow grease and the fact that the living room wasn't very cluttered to begin with, I am now caught up.
   The hardest part of uncluttering is deciding what to get rid of.  This is where Lord of the Rings comes in.  I went through my cups this morning.  We have more cups than two people need.  It is difficult to fit them all in the cabinet.  Some of them had to go.  The first question is which ones do we use on a regular basis.  Then there were the cups that we use on special occasions or when we have guests.  We have to keep those of course.  What was left?  Sadly I looked at a tall white cut with an image of a horse and the word "Rohan" on it.  (If you don't know what Rohan is, it is an place in Lord of the Rings where my favorite character is from.)  I love this cup.  It is beautifully made.  Unfortunately, I never use it.  It just sits in the cabinet taking up space.  Then i saw another cup.  A glass goblet with a picture of Arwen, an elf from Lord of the Rings, on it.  This one even had a base that lit up and caused your drink to glow.  I had to make a decision what do I want more an uncluttered kitchen or more Lord of the Rings paraphernalia.   They are now sitting in my yard sale pile.
   Have you had to make any sacrifices for an uncluttered home?